Warrack Eagles seek grand final revenge

IT has been 10 long years since the Warrack Eagles last tasted senior premiership success.

Since that September in 2002, 3646 days ago, an era of Horsham dominance has swept the Wimmera Football League.

Nine flags in nine years has made Horsham the most successful club in the competition's history.

Only three players are still going from the 15-point grand final win over Ararat in 2002.

Brad Krahe will take to the field in the senior grand final, and Clinton Jonasson and Steven Murphy will play in the reserves.

Krahe, just 18 years old at the time, rated the triumph as the pinnacle of his football career. "I was only a young bloke back then and I've got some really good memories," he said.

"It was a good win and an upset

win beating a team that was probably an eight-goal better side than us.

"We had a 10-year reunion this year and caught up with all the boys, but there's only myself left in the senior team so it would be good to win another one on the weekend."

Krahe said the pain of last year's grand final losses in the seniors and reserves would drive both sides to go that extra mile in tomorrow's deciders.

"Horsham took both last year so hopefully we can do the same to them this year," he said.

"There's a lot of excitement around town and I think the expectation for us to win is certainly there.

"We've beaten them two out of three times this season and we're getting closer to knocking them off their perch."

Jonasson, 34, will play in the Eagles' reserves side which haven't lost a game since last year's 37-point grand final defeat to Horsham.

But the veteran isn't getting too far ahead of himself.

"We can't go too over the top there's still plenty of work to be done," he said. Jonasson has been one of Warrack's standout players this season, finishing third in the league reserves best and fairest. It will be his sixth grand final, but he has no intentions of giving up anytime soon.

The senior grand final will be the last time Krahe's younger brother Dan, 25, will suit up for the Eagles.

A hip injury has forced the junior Krahe to finish his football career.

READ the 12-page special grand final feature on the finals inside today's Mail-Times.